TRUMBULL -- Normally, it is difficult to take a victorious coach seriously when he praises the losing team after a 5-0 blowout. Which is exactly what Trumbull girls soccer coach Dan Uhrlass did Tuesday after his team's lopsided win over Westhill.

"This easily could've been a much closer game," Uhrlass said. "The score was not at all reflective of how the teams played."

Perhaps it says something about the relative strength of the 2013 Eagles because Uhrlass wasn't just being polite. For further evidence, listen to losing coach Dave Flower's post-game remarks. Typically when a soccer team is beaten by five goals, the losing coach is not the least bit complimentary toward his players. Not Tuesday.

"We played very well," Flower said of his young team. "We got beat by four great goals. I think Trumbull could be very good this season."

Both teams entered Tuesday's contest 2-0. And the last time Westhill and Trumbull met it was in last fall's Class LL second round, a game Trumbull won on penalty kicks. In other words, a close game was anticipated. But thanks to the play of Julia Teixeira, Lauren Hyde and Kendall Szulimowski among others, the Eagles were close to perfect.

"I'm very happy with our effort," Uhrlass said. "We were hungry, we played hard and we were smart. Our passing and finishing was very good. We played so well that after the game I told them to stay humble."

That might be difficult. Teixeira scored the first and third goals, both on beautiful cross passes from the right side from Hyde. Hyde also scored the second goal on a tap-in off another precise cross from Szulimowski, who also set up Katie Foley's goal that made it 4-0.

"Trumbull had a good pace out wide," Flower said of the way the Eagles set up their first four goals. "They didn't miss many chances."

If the same could be said of the Vikings, this might have been a 2-2 tie at halftime, rather than a 2-0 Trumbull lead. Westhill's Jess Laszlo had a great chance, and another Westhill shot earlier hit the post. Overall, Trumbull outshot the Vikings 15-7 with Westhill goalie Zhenna Stewart finishing with six saves and Trumbull's Maggie Parisi stopping three shots.

The Eagles made it 5-0 on a rather fluky goal with 13 minutes remaining. Stewart lost a bouncing ball in the sun and Trumbull's Dani McGillicudy got behind her and tapped it in.

While Westhill, 9-7-2 a year ago, is hoping to get back to the state tournament with the help of just one senior, Uhrlass feels the Eagles (nine seniors) can at the very least equal last season's 15-3-3 ledger, and hopefully have a happier ending after losing in both the FCIAC and Class LL semifinals.

"We lost a half-dozen key players but other girls are stepping up and we could be as good, if not better this year," Uhrlass said.